"A brave choice and a sign of true democracy, to elect president an Afro-American black man". Mgr. Antoine Audo, bishop of Aleppo, Syria, receives with hope this election which "many people here in Syria and elsewhere hoped in". "Bush’s policy he explains to SIR has never been liked. But I think his Muslim or Arabic origins had their weight as well. This is certainly a brave choice for Americans and a sign of true democracy, to elect president an Afro-American black man". The weight and novelty of Obama as the President of the United States, adds the bishop, "might be a positive and challenging example for our Arab and Muslim governments, to show this free spirit and attitude" and at the same time "help the USA shake off or at least reduce the deep dislike it has attracted over the last few years amidst the masses, and not only the Muslim ones, and that has become a real problem for the USA". "I hope he concludes in a change of policy for a future of peace in Iraq as well, in an honourable retreat of the USA and the return home of the thousands of Iraqi refugees, including Christians, who are here in Syria". (continued)
